After drawing 0-0 with Japan on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said, “everything can happen.” This kept his team’s chances of winning the 2026 World Cup alive.
In the battle for second place in Group C’s third-round Asian qualifying, the Saudis were subject to intense pressure from Japan, which was hostile, in Saitama.
With two games left, Australia now leads Saudi Arabia by three points after defeating China 2-0.
The top two teams advance to a second qualifying round, with the top three teams going into the third and fourth rounds, and then automatically advance to the next World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In their final qualifying match in June, Saudi Arabia takes on Australia, and Renard claimed his country was still in the running for a direct spot.
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The Frenchman said, “There are still two games where everything can happen.”
We must travel to Bahrain, where Japan and Australia will play, and where Australia will play in the final game.
It’s a difficult fight, they say. We just need to consider the four points we received in these two games, and we look to be better offensively in these two games. ”
Roberto Mancini was fired in October of last year, and Renard led the Saudis to a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With a 1-0 victory over China last week, the Saudis won their first of five qualifiers, but it was harder to beat runaway group leaders Japan away from home.
He said, “We got a good result this evening.”
You are unable to be open.
I am aware that it wasn’t beautiful. Sorry, but we kept our organization. ”
Japan qualified for Group C with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain last week, making them the first nation to do so.
Japan were unable to convert possession into chances when Celtic striker Daizen Maeda hit the post with a first-half chance.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said, “We qualified for the World Cup, but there was no drop-off from the players prior to the game.”
We kept our focus on the game, kept our concentration, and stopped the enemy from hitting us on the counter. Both tactically and mentally, the players did very well. ”
Kaoru Mitoma, Ayase Ueda, Ayase Ueda, and Hidemasa Morita were the only players who made the starting lineup for Japan after the victory over Bahrain.
Renard praised his defense for handling a Japan side that had scored 24 goals in eight qualifiers despite the fact that the Saudis were missing players.
Because Japan is a very good team, he said, “You can’t come here when you are very open. You need to be careful.”
I believe the defensive strategy was effective. Offensively, we attempted to enter the space, but we failed miserably. ”
